The Japan Studies Program at Tokyo International University is a semester-based direct enroll program. Study Japanese while staying with a Japanese family in a homestay environment. The small student-to-faculty ratio promises individualized attention and a high retention of knowledge from the Japanese language and culture courses.

Academics

The Japan Studies Program (JSP) is conducted by Tokyo International University. Since its founding in 1965, TIU has emphasized international studies and exchange in order to produce internationally-minded students. TIU is composed of five schools and has approximately 7,000 students divided between four campuses. Tokyo International University founded the Japan Studies Program (JSP) to meet the growing interest among university students in the United States and Europe to study in Japan. The JSP is a one-to-two-semester study abroad program open to English speaking students in all fields of study from accredited universities and colleges around the world. The program is designed to meet a wide range of student needs, i.e. for specific majors or academic requirements. In addition to the required Japanese language course(s), students are offered several elective classes taught in English as well as many field trips, excursions and cultural activities. Through the students’ home stay, classes, and field trips, students are introduced to Japanese culture and language through first-hand experiences.

For students applying to JSP in the Spring semester, they have the opportunity to sign up for electives from the Liberal Studies, International Relations (IR) and Business Economics (BE) majors of the E-Track Program, which is the English-based 4-year undergraduate program at TIU. To see a list of E-Track courses available, head to the JSP's website, hover over "Academics" with your mouse, and click on "Elective Courses". In looking at Spring 2017, below "JSP Electives", you will find "E-Track Electives | Liberal Arts", "E-Track Electives | Business-Economics (BE)", and "E-Track Electives | International Relations (IR)" courses offered.

Location

Tokyo International University is a private university owned by Kaneko Educational Foundation, the head office of which is located in Tokyo city. The two main campuses of Tokyo International University itself are situated in the suburbs of Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture. Kawagoe has a population of 320,000 and is located 25 miles (about 35 minutes by express train) northwest of central Tokyo. Despite how close Kawagoe is to Tokyo, it is a city with parks, rural areas and has a rich history of its own. The Kawagoe area has been inhabited from Stone Age and is famous for the role it played geographically, economically, and politically in the Tokugawa era when it was a bustling castle town. Surrounded by modern buildings and shopping centers, there is still one area in Kawagoe with more than thirty ancient Kurazukuri (store house) shop-residences that can help you to visualize the atmosphere of old Tokyo. Kawagoe is even nicknamed "Little Edo" (Edo is the old word for Tokyo). Also located in the city is a beautiful temple, Kitain, with many cherry blossom trees, remnants of Kawagoe`s ancient castle, and the city’s symbolic bell tower. Dating from 1648, Kawagoe has held a festival in fall to entertain Kawagoe residents and throngs of tourists. It features townspeople dressed in colorful, traditional festival costumes pulling ancient festival floats through the neighborhoods of old Kawagoe. Musicians and dancers perform on each of the heavily decorative wooden carved floats topped with ancient dolls. JSP students participate in this local festivity each year. Kawagoe also has a modern district with department stores, restaurants, karaoke etc. In Kawagoe, you get to see Japan as it is today, both ancient and modern at the same time.

Housing Information

Students are provided with a private room with a bed/futon, desk, lamp, chair, closet, and temperature control in the host-family’s home. Bath/toilet facilities are shared with the family.

Meals included in the program fees are breakfast and dinner on weekdays, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekends. These are served at the homestay location. If the student is not present for meals, those meals will not be reimbursed.

Students are not able to stay with their host family before the semester starts or after the semester ends.

Students who participate in two consecutive semesters are responsible for all individual expenses incurred between semesters, including lodging, food and travel. Students will not be able to stay with their host families during the time between the two semesters. However, students can continue with the same family for the second semester, and often do.

Links of Interest

Program Costs

To find the estimated costs of these programs, follow these steps:

Go to JSP's website, with the mouse hovering over "Admissions", click on "Tuition and Fees" on the top of the page.

Look over the expense items listed under "Program Fees" and "Expenses" and tally up expenses from BOTH, converting the currency from Japanese Yen to US Dollars (suggested currency converter: XE-Converter).

Last, also add to the total expenses the Study Abroad Fee of $1,500, health insurance ($80 Semester/$160 Academic Year), and the costs of airfare to TIU (~$1,800).